Matching element for sectional furniture



1961 w. N. NORMAN 2,996,770

MATCHING ELEMENT FOR SECTIONAL FURNITURE Filed May 4, 1959 I INVENTOR.

VV/LL/AM No/eMA/v BY Jam ATTO/Q/VEY 2,996,770 MATCHING [ELEMENT FORSECTIONAL FURNITURE William N. Norman, 1500 W. Elm Ave., Fullerton,Calif. Filed May 4, 1!?59, Ser. No. 810,712

4 Claims. Cl. 20-74) This invention relates to means for spanning theseam formed by the abutting edges of sectional fm'niture, such as sofas,and has for an object to provide separable strip elements that not onlyimprove the appearance of the seam or joint where sections are abuttedbut also aid in registering or the sections and imparting to the same aunitary appearance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a matching element asabove contemplated that includes means adapted to be disposed betweenabu-tted furniture sections and be clamped thereby and thus held inoperative position when the furniture is in use.

The invention also has for its objects to provide such means that arepositive in operation, convenient in use, easily installed in a workingposition and easily disconnected therefrom, economical of manufacture,relatively simple, and of general superiority and serviceability.

The invention also comprises novel details of construc- 1110 11 andnovel combinations and arrangements of parts, which will more fullyappear in the course of the following description. However, the drawingmerely shows and the following description merely describes, preferredembodiments of the present invention, which are given by way ofillustration or example only.

In the drawing, like reference characters designate similar parts in theseveral views.

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of a piece of sectionalfurniture with matching elements of the present invention in operativeposition.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the matching elementsshown in FIG. 1, a portion thereof being broken to show detail.

FIG. 3 is a further enlarged cross-sectional view as taken on the line33 of FIG. 1, the view showing fragments of abutting furniture sectionsrather than the single section of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a partly broken perspective view of a modification.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view thereof similar to FIG. 3.

While sectional sofas and the like are ordinarily upholstered, partsthereof, such as the back, may have no padding. Regardless how otherwisemade, such sectional furniture items each has at least one end that isusually transverse to the length of the item and exactly matches asimilar end of another section that may be abutted thereagainst. Theexactness or nicety of match of the seam formed when two such furniturepieces are abutted has heretofore depended on the care taken in matchingup the ends 10. The present matching element not only aids such matchingregister but also provides an enhanced appearance as well as impartingcontinuity or the appearance of being unitary to abutted sectionalpieces.

As shown in FIG. 1, the matching elements 11 and 12 respectively coverthe scam at the backs 13 and at the forward portions of the seats orseat frames 14. Each said element comprises, generally, a thin metalstrip 15 that may be provided with a fabric cover or sheath 16, and aclip fitting 17 on at least one end of the strip 15. The element 11 usestwo such clip fittings.

The element 11 is formed by suitable bends to have a front portion 18that is adapted to span across the seam at the front of the backs ofabutted sectional furniture, a top portion 19 that is adapted to spanacross the top of States Patent said backs and a rear portion 20 thatmay extend to the lower end of the back or, if desired, terminateadjacent the top portion 19. In any case, the fittings 17 are providedon the free ends of the portions 18 and 20.

Said clip fittings are each shown as provided with a thin extension 21that extends from the medial line of the element 11. Thus, with theextensions 21 disposed in the seam between abutted ends 10 and theportions 18, 19 and 20 in respective overstanding engagement with thefront, top and rear of the backs of the abutted sectional pieces, oneach side of said scam, the latter is completely hidden from view andthe element thus provided performs the functions herein-above set out.The single clip fitting of the element 12 is similar, said element inother respects and except for the length of its portions 22 and 23 beingstructurally comparable to the ele ment 11.

I The clip fittings 17 each comprises a sheet metal strip that has aportion 24 that encircles the fabric-covered strips 15 and conforms tothe flattened form thereof, parallel arms 25 of said encircling portionand which, together, make up the extensions 21, and a returnabend end 26on one arm 25 and in clamping engagement with the end of the other arm25. Of course, the encircling portion is formed according to thecross-sectional form of the strip 15, regardless whether or not flat.The resilience of the fabric cover 16 assures tight fit of the fitting17 and assures that the elements 11 or 12, or both, will be held inoperative position across the seam of abutting sectional pieces when theabutting ends 10 of said pieces clamp the extensions 21 between them.

The flexible nature of the metal strips 15 provides for adjustment ofconforming fit, and it will be understood that other materials, such asplastics, for instance, may be substituted for the metal strip 15. Ofcourse, the strips 15 may be uncovered rather than sheathed and thegauge of the same, as well as its color or design, may be varied asdesired.

The fabric-provided elements above described have their fabric sheathsclamped against end shifting by the fittings 17 and no other means isneeded to lock the fabric in place.

The modification of FIGS. 4 and 5 shows a matching element that is ofrigid construction and is advantageously made of wood with a fabriccover where the same is exposed. Accordingly, the portions 18a and 19aare operatively related to the seam of abutment of two sectional units,as are the portions 18 and 19, except that the same are formed to theshape to which fitted. Wooden strips 15a covered by fabric 16a productthe portions 18a and 19a, the fabric being secured by tacks 17a sinceclip fittings are not needed for this purpose. Instead of th extensions21, the element of FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided with a rigid wooden rib 21athat serves the same purpose of being clamped by the furniture units.Said rib, of course, may be made in sections instead of extending forthe full length of the item.

While the foregoing specification illustrates and describes what I nowcontemplate to be the best modes of carrying out my invention, theconstructions are, of course, subject to modification without departingfrom the spirit and scope of my invention. Therefore, I do not desire torestrict the invention to the particular forms of constructionillustrated and described, but desire to cover all modifications thatmay fall within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to besecured by Letters Patent is:

l. A matching element for sectional furniture comprising a flexiblestrip of flat material provided with transverse beuds to conform thestrip to the contour of abutting portions of two section of suchfurniture, sa d formed strip being adapted to span the seam or line ofabutment and cover adjacent portions of the sections, a fabric sheathcovering said flat strip, and securing means of flat strip clampedaround the exterior of at least one fabric-covered end of the flat stripand provided with a plate like extension disposed in the seam betweenthe furniture sections and adapted to be clamped by said sections tofrictionally hold the element and the fabric sheath thereon in positionwhen said sections are secured together.

2. In a matching element, a seam-covering strip, and a clip fitting offlat strip secured to and around the surfaces of an end of said stripand provided with a transverse plate-like portion adapted to fit in theseam covered by the seam covering strip, said plate-like portion beingprovided by parallel extensions of the clip fitting in face to faceabutting relation.

3. In a matching element according to claim 2 in which one saidplate-like portion is provided with an end bent back on the otherplate-like portion to clamp the extensions together.

4. A matching element extending over the seam between abutted parts ofsectional furniture comprising: a

length of fiat strip positioned to extend along and over the seam; andsecuring elements of short lengths of flat strip folded at points to lieflat against the outer and inner surfaces of the strip and to project asa plate-like extension normal to the back of the fiat strip at about thecenter thereof to a distance sufiicient to be inserted in the jointbetween sectional furniture parts and frictionally clamped therein whenthe parts are secured together.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,722,226 Kessler July 23, 1929 2,013,598 Brooke Sept. 3, 1935 2,464,160Stanitz Mar. 8, 1949 2,599,322 Drain June 3, 1952 2,888,684 IcenhowerJune 2, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 185,218 Great Britain Aug. 31, 1922 769,469Great Britain Mar. 6, 1957

